pleomorphism
- noun
- /ˌplēəˈmôrfɪzəm/
- Specialized
:
pleomorfismo
- The study of pleomorphism reveals how a compound's properties can change when its crystalline form varies.
Examples
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In chemistry, pleomorphism is important as it demonstrates that compounds can exist in more than one crystal arrangement.
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They described pathologic characteristics such as large areas of hyalinized matrix, increased hypercellularity with nuclear pleomorphism, and hyperchromatism.
Academic text (2007) -
Aggressiveness is usually thought to be associated with large size, hypercellularity, increased mitoses, pleomorphism, necrosis, and hemorrhage, but these are unreliable.
Academic text (1996) -
Because of its morphologic pleomorphism, PLGA has often been wrongly diagnosed as pleomorphic adenoma or adenoid cystic carcinoma.
Academic text (2005) -
Fibrous histiocytomas have a storiform pattern and more cellular pleomorphism, while peripheral nerve tumors show palisading and S-100 immunoreaction.
Academic text (1996) -
The property of pleomorphism allows a single chemical compound to adopt various crystalline structures under different conditions.
Synonyms
When a substance makes different crystal shapes under different conditions
A substance that can exist in two or more solid forms with different properties
A substance that forms two different kinds of crystals
How Variable
- Specialized
- Specialized
- Specialized
77
3.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
pleomorphism = pleomorphic (semi-transparent) = pleo + morph + ism
Formed by adding the noun-forming suffix '-ism' to the adjective 'pleomorphic'; the adjective itself contains the uncommon combining form 'pleo-', so the step is only partially obvious to non-specialists.
Etymology
Pleomorphism comes from the Greek parts pleo- 'many' and -morph 'shape', so it means 'many shapes'. That's why pleomorphism is used for a chemical compound that can form different crystal shapes.